How Charles Leclerc’s fastest SF-25 lap stacks up against Michael Schumacher’s Fiorano record

Charles Leclerc ’s First SF-25 Run Offers Early Glimpse of Ferrari’s Potential

Charles Leclerc had the honor of being the first to drive Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 challenger, the SF-25, during a private test at the team’s Fiorano circuit on Wednesday. The session came just hours after Ferrari’s high-profile livery launch at The O2 in London, where team principal Frédéric Vasseur noted that Lewis Hamilton was visibly emotional as he was officially unveiled as a Ferrari driver in his home country.

Despite the whirlwind schedule, Charles Leclerc was back in his race suit in Italy, logging valuable laps during a 100km filming day. While the Monegasque won’t fully acclimate to the SF-25 until pre-season testing in Bahrain next week, the Fiorano outing provided an early opportunity to assess the car’s initial performance. With only three days of unrestricted running before the season kicks off in Australia, Ferrari is keen to ensure its latest design improvements translate into a genuine championship contender.

After narrowly missing out on the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren in 2024, Ferrari believes its revamped driver lineup gives it the best shot at breaking a 17-year title drought.

Leclerc’s Lap Time Nears Schumacher’s Fiorano Benchmark

According to Formula1.it, Charles Leclerc’s Fiorano run included various setup trials and promotional filming. While exact performance evaluations are difficult at this stage, journalist Paolo Ciccarone, reporting live from the track, noted that Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap of the day was a 56.06-second effort—just a fraction behind Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record of 55.999 seconds.

Given the cold track conditions and the unknown fuel load or setup Ferrari used, the time is an intriguing early indicator of the SF-25’s capabilities. Notably, Charles Leclerc ’s reported best lap in last year’s Ferrari was a 56.88, suggesting Ferrari has made at least a small step forward.

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The session wasn’t open to the public, but thousands of Ferrari fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the team’s new car in action. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s fastest time remains undisclosed, and with reports of Charles Leclerc’s car stopping on track, it’s possible Ferrari opted for a more conservative approach with its newest signing.

Could Leclerc Disrupt Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut?

Speaking after his initial run, Leclerc made it clear that Ferrari must aim to fight for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 2025. If the SF-25 proves to be a frontrunner, the Monegasque may find himself in the perfect position to chase his first title—and potentially overshadow Hamilton’s debut season in red.

Charles Leclerc’s qualifying prowess could give him an edge over Hamilton on Saturdays, and if Ferrari finds itself in a title fight, strategic calls may favor the driver starting ahead. With Max Verstappen still the benchmark, Charles Leclerc has a golden opportunity to stake his claim as Ferrari’s best shot at ending Red Bull’s dominance.